U.S. patent application number 13/049248 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-22 for pipe spacer.
This patent application is currently assigned to SUPRANERGIE INC.. Invention is credited to Justin CARBONNEAU, Nicolas COTTA, Patrick LAMBERT, Andre D. ROTONDO, Jacques ROTONDO, Alexandre ST-PIERRE.
Application Number | 20110226911 13/049248 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44646473 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110226911 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LAMBERT; Patrick ; et
al. |
September 22, 2011 |
PIPE SPACER
Abstract
A pipe spacer is provided for spacing at least one pipe in a
piping system. The spacer includes a handle with at least one
pipe-engaging support member for maintaining an engaged pipe close
to a surface in a piping system.
Inventors: |
LAMBERT; Patrick; (Otterburn
Park, CA) ; ROTONDO; Andre D.; (Sorel-Tracy, CA)
; COTTA; Nicolas; (Montreal, CA) ; ROTONDO;
Jacques; (Soleil, CA) ; CARBONNEAU; Justin;
(St-Roch-de-Richelieu, CA) ; ST-PIERRE; Alexandre;
(Montreal, CA) |
Assignee: |
SUPRANERGIE INC.
Otterburn Park
CA
|
Family ID: |
44646473 |
Appl. No.: |
13/049248 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61314224 |
Mar 16, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 10/10 20130101;
F16L 3/237 20130101; Y02E 10/125 20130101; F24T 10/15 20180501 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/65 |
International
Class: |
F16L 3/08 20060101
F16L003/08 |
Claims
1. A pipe spacer for spacing at least one pipe in a piping system,
said spacer comprising: a handle with at least one pipe-engaging
support member for maintaining an engaged pipe close to a surface
in a piping system.
2. A pipe spacer for spacing at least two pipes in a piping system,
said spacer comprising: a handle with at least two pipe-engaging
support members for spacing engaged pipes.
3. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein said at least two
pipe-engaging support members are extending from opposite ends of
said handle.
4. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein said piping system is a heat
exchanger system.
5. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein said pipe-engaging support
member comprises a pipe-engaging clip at a free extremity of said
pipe-engaging support member.
6. The pipe spacer of claim 5, wherein said pipe-engaging clip
comprises a concave surface for receiving a pipe.
7. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein said spacer is sized
according to a bore hole diameter.
8. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein said pipe-engaging support
member is sized according to said pipe diameter.
9. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein said handle and said
pipe-engaging support members are made of a single piece.
10. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein the handle is made of
polymeric material, plastic, ABS, metallic material or composite
materials.
11. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein the pipe-engaging support
member is made of polymeric material, plastic, ABS, metallic
material or composite material.
12. The pipe spacer of claim 2, wherein the pipe-engaging support
member is made of various radials of curvature.
13. The pipe spacer of claim 2, further comprises a geometry to
allow slipping along a bore hole wall.
14. The pipe spacer of claim 6, wherein the concave surface is made
of a substantially high friction material to reduce the slippage of
the spacer on the pipe.
15. A method for spacing at least two pipes in a piping system
comprising the steps of: a) engaging one pipe-engaging support
member of said pipe spacer of claim 2 with at least a first pipe;
and b) engaging a second pipe-engaging support members of said pipe
spacer of step a) with at least a second pipe to space said first
and second pipes apart in a piping system.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said piping system is a heat
exchanger system.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35USC.sctn.119(e) of
U.S. provisional patent application 61/314,224, filed on Mar. 16,
2010, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] a) Field
[0003] The subject matter generally relates to geothermal vertical
heat exchanger systems. More particularly, it relates to a pipe
spacer for separating a U-bend pipe in a bore during installation
of a pipe.
[0004] b) Related Prior Art
[0005] At this point, in the field of geothermal heat exchanger
systems, a closed loop geothermal heat exchanger (GHX) is used to
extract ground thermal energy. It is well known in the prior art
that heat exchange occurs by the circulation of a fluid in a pipe
or tube composing the closed loop. Usually, the pipe has both a
supply and a return, which are normally located in the same bore
hole. The supply and return pipes are connected via a "U" shape
joint (U-Bend) at the bottom of a bore hole. In fact, because a
vertical GHX is normally made up of High Density Polyethylene 3408
(HDPE 3408) piping, the pipe has a certain elastic flexibility
thus, during the installation of a vertical geothermic exchanger,
gravity tends to force the pipes to curve or bend, interlace and to
lean against themselves or against the bore hole wall at their
curvature or bending points. There is therefore a need in the art
to provide a pipe spacer for easily separating a U-bend pipe in a
bore during installation of pipe.
[0006] The scale of a geothermic field is dictated by the following
elements: [0007] 1. Thermal loads to be dealt with (Building,
process, etc.); [0008] 2. Underground geological conditions (soil
and rock type, density, water content and average temperature);
[0009] 3. Design temperature of the GHX liquid used; [0010] 4. Bore
hole geometrical configuration; and [0011] 5. Pipe and grout
thermal properties.
[0012] For environmental and technical reasons, it is normally
necessary to fill the space around the U-Loop with a grout mixture.
This grout represents an additional thermal resistance. Any grout
located between the pipe and the bore hole wall causes a decrease
in heat exchange which results in a decrease in the bore hole's
energy efficiency and thus requiring an increase of the bore hole's
length.
[0013] Interlacing, as well as the U-Loop supply and return piping
proximity, contribute in reducing the geothermic exchange
effectiveness (heat exchange with the ground) by increasing the
thermal interference between the two pipes (supply and return) of a
bore hole and by creating contact points between them, i.e. thermal
energy is partially exchanged between the pipes and not entirely
with the ground. Consequently, this decreases the bore hole's
energy efficiency and requires an increase of its length or an
increase of the number of necessary bore holes.
[0014] For a given project with specific thermal loads, at a
determined site with specific geological conditions, there are few
elements one can influence in order to optimize the design and the
thermal effectiveness of a geothermic field. One of these elements
is the pipe spacing within a bore hole.
[0015] In order to maximize heat transfer effectiveness, it is
necessary to space apart as much as possible the supply pipe from
the return pipe. This reduces their reciprocal thermal interference
while reducing the induced grout thermal resistance.
[0016] Known in the prior art to create spacing in between pipes is
U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,459, which is entitled U-BEND PIPE SPACER. This
model used in North America is known under the name GeoClip.TM.. A
GeoClip.TM. is a spring loaded spacer. It accomplishes its task as
a spacer, to maintain pipes diametrically opposed, via a spring
exerting a dynamic pressure on the pipes in question, so that the
GeoClip.TM. can push on the pipes. Because a Geoclip.TM. is
composed of four (4) main mobile parts, two (2) retention cavities
or clips to receive the pipes, one (1) spring to exert a force of
repulsion and one (1) retention ring to hold the spring closed
before its use, prior art spacers such as the GeoClip.TM. are
complex to manufacture. This complexity of the prior art
GeoClip.TM. spacer renders its utilization difficult and
unpleasant. Moreover, it is characterized by its fragile nature
which is inherent to its design.
[0017] It is also common to find "broken" GeoClips.TM. on
geothermic system construction sites. Once the spring is released
from one of its anchoring points, the GeoClip.TM. becomes useless.
Although the GeoClip.TM. is intended to space apart u-bend pipes
during installation in a geothermal system, it is very difficult to
install and slows down tremendously the speed of installation of
pipes which make it less interesting to handle.
[0018] Moreover, there is shown that prior art spacers often result
in a significant amount of rejected, yet functional and in good
condition, spacers on geothermic system construction sites. For
example, from the way the pipes are connected to a GeoClip.TM., it
happens often that one of the two pipes detaches before insertion
of the GeoClip.TM. into the bore hole. The spring of the
GeoClip.TM. then expands completely, thus opening the spacer. The
necessary time and work to reset the spring and to reattach the
GeoClip.TM. to the pipes is greater than the value of the
GeoClip.TM. itself. Consequently, the worker simply tosses the
GeoClip.TM. aside and replaces it with a new one.
[0019] On the other hand, it is also common to find prior art
spacers or GeoClip.TM. retention rings scattered on geothermic
system construction sites. These retention rings are useless and
non reusable once removed from a GeoClip.TM.. These rings, which
are non biodegradable, are often found buried on the construction
site, creating unwanted pollution. Existing, other spring-loaded
spacer prior art comprises a metallic spring that rusts over time.
This rust can lead to microbial growth. Once inside a borehole,
such rust is a vector for aquifer contamination. There is therefore
a need in the art to provide a simple pipe spacer device for easily
separating a U-bend pipe in a bore during installation of pipe.
[0020] Additionally, due to the shape of prior art spacers such as
GeoClip.TM., and its method of use, the bore hole must be filled
with a geothermic grout at the time of the GHX insertion. The
GeoClip.TM. retention ring is foreseen to remain in place not only
until the supply and return pipes of the geothermic exchanger are
connected to the GeoClip.TM., but also until the tremie pipe is
positioned in its predefined place on the GeoClip.TM.. The tremie
pipe is used when filling the annular space between the exchanger
and the bore hole wall with a geothermic grout. This pipe is
connected to the GeoClip.TM. in a way so as to prevent the
GeoClip.TM. spring from extending once the retention ring is
removed and as long as the tremie pipe itself has not been
withdrawn.
[0021] In such configurations, it is impossible to descend the
tremie pipe if it is not descended at the same time as the
GeoClips.TM.. This creates a drop in bore hole drilling
productivity as well as a need for expensive coordination, since
the drilling and the grouting teams, which do not work at a similar
pace, must however wait after each other for each bore hole. For
example, drilling one bore hole typically requires 12 hours of
work, while the loop insertion and bore hole grouting typically
requires 4 hours of work. This adds additional costs for any
installation project. Other prior art spacers such as the
GeoClip.TM. require the use of both hands and several handling
steps in order to position and connect the spacers to exchanger
pipes. There is therefore a need in the art to provide a pipe
spacer device for easily, and in a short period of time, separating
a U-bend pipe in a bore during installation of pipe.
[0022] Finally, the complex handling requirements of prior art
spacers such as the GeoClip.TM., in addition to the risks of their
detaching from a pipe before and after their insertion in the bore
hole, make prior art spacers unattractive with respect to their use
with several heat exchanger installers.
[0023] Consequently, there is a need for a pipe spacer to address
this requirement for reducing thermal interference while reducing
induced grout thermal resistance. Moreover, there is also a need
for a spacer which can improve a driller's productivity by reducing
risks and facilitating installation work in general.
[0024] For all these disadvantages, there is therefore a need in
the art to provide a pipe spacer for easily separating a U-bend
pipe in a bore during installation of pipe, developed for use in
geothermic systems using closed loop heat exchangers. More
particularly, the pipe spacer will need to maintain the GHX pipes
as close as possible to the bore hole wall in which the exchanger
is placed. This increases the energy performance of the GHX,
reduces length of pipes required and substantially reduces
installation time and costs.
SUMMARY
[0025] According to an embodiment, there is provided a pipe spacer
for spacing at least one pipe in a piping system, the spacer
comprising: [0026] a handle with at least one pipe-engaging support
member for maintaining an engaged pipe close to a surface in a
piping system.
[0027] According to another embodiment, there is provided a pipe
spacer for spacing at least two pipes in a piping system, the
spacer comprising: [0028] a handle with at least two pipe-engaging
support members for spacing engaged pipes.
[0029] The at least two pipe-engaging support members of the pipe
spacer may be extending from opposite ends of the handle.
[0030] The piping system may be a heat exchanger system. In a heat
exchanger system, the spacer is used to space the pipes apart from
each other while maintaining them as close as possible to the bore
hole wall for maximizing heat exchange.
[0031] The pipe-engaging support member may comprise a
pipe-engaging clip at a free extremity of the pipe-engaging support
member.
[0032] The pipe-engaging clip may comprise a concave surface for
receiving a pipe.
[0033] The concave surface may be made of a substantially high
friction material to reduce the slippage of the spacer on the
pipe.
[0034] The pipe spacer may be sized according to a bore hole
diameter.
[0035] The pipe-engaging support member may be sized according to
the pipe diameter.
[0036] The handle and the pipe-engaging support members of the pipe
spacer may be made of a single piece.
[0037] The handle may be made of polymeric material, plastic, ABS,
metallic material or composite materials.
[0038] The pipe-engaging support member may be made of polymeric
material, plastic, ABS, metallic material or composite
material.
[0039] The pipe-engaging support member may be made of various
radials of curvature.
[0040] The pipe spacer may have a geometry to allow slipping along
a bore hole wall.
[0041] According to another embodiment, there is provided use of
the pipe spacer for maintaining or spacing engaged pieces.
[0042] The pieces are selected from the group consisting of pipes,
posts, sticks or pillars.
[0043] According to another embodiment, there is provided a method
for spacing at least two pipes in a piping system comprising the
steps of: [0044] a) engaging one pipe-engaging support member of
the pipe spacer of claim 2 with at least a first pipe; and [0045]
b) engaging a second pipe-engaging support members of the pipe
spacer of step a) with at least a second pipe to space the first
and second pipes apart in a piping system such as a heat exchanger
system.
[0046] The term "spacer" is understood to include the following
definition: a rigid piece connecting to two or more other pieces
and maintaining a predetermined spacing between the connected
pieces. Such pieces include without limitation pipes, posts,
pillars, flag sticks and antennas. Preferably, the spacer is used
to space apart at least two pipes in a system.
[0047] The term "heat exchanger" is understood to include the
following definition: a heat exchanger system may be any device
built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another
including among others a geothermal heat exchanger, including
without limitation, shell and tube heat exchanger, plate fin heat
exchanger, pillow plate heat exchanger, fluid heat exchanger, waste
heat recovery units, dynamic scraped surface heat exchanger,
phase-change heat exchanger among others
[0048] Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will
become more apparent in light of the following detailed description
of selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying
figures. As will be realized, the subject matter disclosed and
claimed is capable of modifications in various respects, all
without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the
drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in
nature, and not as restrictive and the full scope of the subject
matter is set forth in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure
will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken
in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of several spacers, including
spacers installed on a pair of U-bend pipes, in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0051] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a spacer in accordance with
another embodiment.
[0052] FIG. 2B is a top plan view of a spacer in accordance with
another embodiment.
[0053] FIG. 2C is a front view of a spacer in accordance with
another embodiment.
[0054] FIG. 2D is a side view of a spacer in accordance with
another embodiment.
[0055] FIG. 2E is a cross-sectional view along axis A-A of FIG. 2D
of a spacer in accordance with another embodiment.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a table specifying different dimensions required
for an array of, but not limited to, different possibilities of
installation applications of the spacer with respect to the
dimensions shown in FIGS. 2A to 2E.
[0057] FIG. 4A is a front view of a spacer in accordance with
another embodiment.
[0058] FIG. 4B is a top plan view of a spacer in accordance with
another embodiment.
[0059] FIG. 4C is a bottom plan view of a spacer in accordance with
another embodiment.
[0060] FIG. 4D is a bottom plan view along axis D-D of FIG. 4A of a
spacer in accordance with another embodiment.
[0061] FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view along axis A-A of FIG. 4G
of a spacer in accordance with another embodiment.
[0062] FIG. 4F is a cross-sectional view along axis B-B of FIG. 4A
of a spacer in accordance with another embodiment.
[0063] FIG. 4G is a side view of a spacer in accordance with
another embodiment.
[0064] FIG. 4H is a view along axis C-C of a spacer in accordance
with another embodiment.
[0065] FIGS. 4I and 4J illustrate that the thickness of the central
portion of the spacer remains the same whereas the width
varies.
[0066] FIGS. 5A to 5G are perspective views illustrating the
installation steps of a spacer on a U-bend pipe for eventual
installation in a bore in the ground in accordance with an
embodiment.
[0067] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like
features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0068] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG.
1, a spacer 10 is provided for spacing a pair of pipes 20 in a heat
exchanger system (for example U-bend pipes). The spacer 10 includes
a handle 12 and a pair of pipe-engaging support members 14
extending from opposite ends of the handle 12. Each of the
pipe-engaging support members 14 comprises a pipe-engaging clip 16
at a free extremity of the pipe-engaging support member 14, the
clip 16 comprising a concave surface 18 adapted for receiving a
pipe 20 therein. The handle 12 and pipe-engaging support members 14
may form a single integral component. The concave surface 18 may
optionally be lined with a high friction material for use in
conditions of low friction between the concave surface 18 and a
pipe 20.
[0069] The spacer 10 according to one embodiment was designed for
the intended use in geothermic systems using closed loop heat
exchangers. More particularly, the spacer 10 is used to maintain
the GHX pipes as close as possible to the bore hole wall to
maximize heat exchange between the liquid circulating in the pipes
20 and the bore hole wall. This maximized heat exchange increases
the energy performance of the geothermic system, reduces the length
of the required pipes 20 and substantially reduces installation
time and costs. On the other hand, it is to be noted that the
spacer 10 may be designed for the intended use in many other heat
exchanger systems such as shell and tube heat exchanger, plate fin
heat exchanger, pillow plate heat exchanger, fluid heat exchanger,
waste heat recovery units, dynamic scraped surface heat exchanger,
phase-change heat exchanger among others.
[0070] Also, the spacer 10 may be used in multiple applications in
where an adequate separation of the pipes is required. Although
still in geothermal applications, there are drillers who use
spacers 10 to temporarily hold the pipes 20 aligned in the
horizontal portion. Other applications of the spacers 10 have no
connection with geothermal energy, but with the interest of
maintaining pipes aligned during installation. By example, spacers
10 may be used for maintaining in place pipes 20 in the
installation of a radiant floor or of a cooling system under an ice
rink. Additionally, the pacer 10 may be designed for the intended
use in many other systems, even different then heat exchanger
systems. By example, two spacers 10 may be used to temporarily fixe
a flag on a post, or even a radio antenna on a pillar.
[0071] The spacer 10 in accordance with an embodiment, is sized
according to the bore hole diameter and the geothermic exchanger
pipe 20 diameter. Consequently, several spacer sizes are provided
in order to address various geometrical requirements of different
configurations of geothermic exchangers.
[0072] The spacer 10 does not exert pressure on the pipes 20 to
separate them. The spacer 10 may accommodate various specific bore
hole diameters and passively maintains spacing between the pipes
20. Additionally, the concave surface 18 of the pipe-engaging
support member 14 may be made of or coated with a substantially
high friction material to reduce the slippage of the spacer 10 on
the pipes 20 when the exterior temperature is dropping to less than
about -20.degree. C. At these temperatures, the spacer 10 may slide
more easily over the pipes 20 and moves when the pipes 20 are going
down in the bore hole. In fact, the substantially high friction
material of the concave surface 18 of the pipe-engaging support
member 14 improves the friction level between the pipes 20 and the
spacer 10 and reduces the slippage effect of the spacer 10 in those
conditions. It is also to be noted that it is not essential to
provide the concave surface 18 of the pipe-engaging support member
14 with a substantially high friction material all year long. The
rigidity of the spacer 10 maintains the distance between the pipes
20. However, the spacer 10 also has a certain level of resilience
enabling it to adapt to occasional geothermic anomalies of a bore
hole.
[0073] The spacer 10 may be made of a single piece. When the spacer
10 is composed of a single non-corrodible or corrosion proofed
piece, no discarded material is produced and left on the
construction site. Moreover, the spacer may be made of recycled
ABS, thereby helping preserve the environment. The shape and design
of the spacer 10 are carefully developed in order to meet solidity,
durability and handiness requirements. The material used to
manufacture the spacer 10 may be a rigid material and may be a
resistant material for repetitive handlings. The spacer 10
maintains its integrity, even when subjected to rough construction
site conditions.
[0074] It is to be noted that the spacer 10 is not necessarily made
of a single portion. The spacer 10 may be designed as a two piece
unit that can be assembled after production in such a way that it
maintains the original rigidity and flexibility of the spacer 10.
One pipe-engaging support member 14 would be able to slide
completely into the other pipe-engaging support member 14 to
complete the full spacer 10. Assembled prior to shipping, the
spacer 10 in its final unit would not be made of a single
piece.
[0075] The shape of the spacer 10 is designed to hold the pipes 20
in place no matter what occurs during descent in the bore hole. In
the event, due to mishandling by the driller for example, that a
pipe 20 is detached from a spacer 10, prior to insertion into the
bore hole, the spacer 10 remains in place and the pipe 20 can
easily be reconnected. Moreover, the edges of the spacer 10 have a
geometry that allows slippage along the bore hole wall. Even if
there is friction throughout insertion of the pipe, which is
possible, the spacer 10 is designed to preserve its integrity
throughout the descent and until it is placed in its final
position. By the way of the spacer's 10 "Omega" shape, if a pipe 20
detaches from its retention cavity, it will nevertheless remain in
place between the spacer 10 and the bore hole wall.
[0076] According to an embodiment, use of a spacer 10 does not
require a tremie pipe to be present during its insertion into the
bore hole and consequently does not encumber a tremie pipe descent.
Productivity at the time of installation is maintained without any
modifications to typical working methods for geothermic
installations.
[0077] The spacer 10 is designed to maximize the open access space
in a bore hole, in order to allow for GHX insertion without the
presence of a tremie pipe. GHX insertion can be completed several
days and even weeks, prior to grouting the bore hole with a
geothermic grout. Furthermore, the tremie pipe will face little, if
any, interference during the descent. It is therefore possible for
the driller to insert the geothermic exchanger into the bore hole
as early as possible, independently of grouting equipment, and this
while reducing economic costs due to on site equipment being on
standby. The distinctive shape of the spacer 10 may allow the
tremie pipe to slip along the spacer rather than to hook onto
it.
[0078] Referring now to FIGS. 2A to 4J, there is shown that,
preferably, during manufacturing of the spacer 10, a tab element 30
(as shown in FIG. 2A) may be added to the design of the spacer 10
in order to keep the spacer 10 from folding on itself during
cooling of the part. Indeed, during the cooling phase of the spacer
10 during manufacturing thereof, the materials used to make the
spacer 10 contract and sometimes the spacer 10 closes on itself
more than desired, at the corners between the handle 12 and the
pipe-engaging support members 14. The tab 30 cools down more
quickly than the remainder of the spacer parts 12, 14 and therefore
keeps the corners from folding excessively. If desired, the tab 30
can be cut from the part after production of the spacer 10 as it is
only useful during manufacturing thereof. This tab may not be
required for other types of materials used to make the spacer
10.
[0079] Moreover, the pipe spacer 10 may be used for spacing only
one pipe 20 from a particular surface in a piping system. In this
case, the spacer 10 is made of a handle 12 and only one
pipe-engaging support member 14 extending from one end of the
handle 12, in which the pipe-engaging support member 14 is for
spacing an engaged pipe 20.
[0080] As better shown in FIGS. 5A to 5G, handling of the
EZ-SNAPS.TM. spacer 10, in order to connect it to the GHX pipes 20,
is accomplished in a single gesture. A worker can position a spacer
(FIG. 5C) and, in one jerking movement, snap it into place (FIG.
5D). There are no additional parts requiring removal in order to
actuate the spacer, no spring and no moving parts. No extra parts
of the spacer can dislodge or fall. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5G,
connection of the spacer 10 to the exchanger pipes 20 can be
accomplished with the use of a single hand.
[0081] For environmental and technical reasons, it is normally
necessary to fill the space around the U-Loop with a grout mixture.
This grout represents an additional thermal resistance. Any grout
located between the pipe and the bore hole wall causes a decrease
in heat exchange which results in a decrease in the bore hole's
energy efficiency and thus requiring an increase of the bore hole's
length. Interlacing, as well as the U-Loop supply and return piping
proximity, contribute in reducing the geothermic exchange
effectiveness (heat exchange with the ground) by increasing the
thermal interference between the two pipes (supply and return) of a
bore hole and by creating contact points between them, i.e. thermal
energy is partially exchanged between the pipes and not entirely
with the ground. Consequently, this decreases the bore hole's
energy efficiency and requires an increase of its length or an
increase of the number of necessary bore holes.
[0082] While preferred embodiments have been described above and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to
those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without
departing from this disclosure. Such modifications are considered
as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *